Romance Was Born - The Miraculous Mundane pre-Collection

Bobbysix's resident fashion expert, Liana Gow-Killingbeck, casts her eye on the latest offering from Romance Was Born:

Yeah, so I’m pretty sure whatever’s going on inside the brains of Romance Was Born duo Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett is exceedingly brilliant. I sometimes wonder if they constantly observe the world through a pair of Luna Lovegood’s Spectrespecs, watching life whirl in magic and colour and fantasy. It's as if they are being kind enough to share these vivid visions with us regular folk through their clothing.

Over the past few years Romance Was Born has become quite renowned for their deliciously theatrical designs, and once again, they’ve failed to disappoint. Their recently released pre-collection 2012 lookbook, The Miraculous Mundane, is oh-so-tasty, and relevantly so, as the inspiration for this collection draws from none other than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Kawinkydink!

 Melbourne based artist Stephan Bush is the creative genius behind the digital prints which have made this collection so sweetly salient. The swirling, rainbow shift dresses are totally Ab-Fab darling, and look as if they've just stepped off an Austin Powers set or something. The space-like bubble dresses are very Violet Beauregarde (for obvious reasons), and I’m thinking the vibrant, printed silk pieces will be a definite hit due to the raging demand of quality graphics in the everyday fashionista’s wardrobe.

As for that acid green psychedelic print, aye carumba! It makes my iTunes visualiser totally giddy with jealousy. Gotta get me on that good ship lollipop!

Review by Liana Gow-Killingbeck. See the pre-Collection 12 lookbook at Oyster. 

Brighton Fashion Week 2012 - The Brighton Frocks show

Alice Parsons took in the first show at the 2012 Brighton Fashion Week:

The 2012 Brighton Fashion Week ‘Catwalk show’ at All Saints Church, Hove, had all the pre-show excitement, anticipation and awesome looking guests of previous years. Also the same lengthy queue for the bar (allowing more time for outfit perving). And the promise of an entire week’s worth of fashion to follow.

I had the great fortune of being seated on the front row, close enough to the catwalk to see every sequin and goose pimple. Also possibly close enough to be blinded by the whirlwind of an opener that was Celia Arias designs. A display of outlandish characters took to the catwalk. An evil puppet mistress steered a sumptuous Japanese puppet into view. They were followed by a cautious gollum sporting a skull and plastic aeroplane helmet, who checked his surroundings before beckoning a shy green monster onto the stage in Little Sister, Big Daddy style.

Latex was next, Lucky Dame showcased a collection of naughty, nude and pastel colored dresses led on by stunning BFW model Tess Georgia Dimos (pictured below). Despite latex’s saucy vibe, the outfits still had something cute about them, although along with Arias' creations perhaps fall into the not so wearable on a daytime/public spaces basis.

Frantic About Frances followed. The range of vintage style boudoir underwear is glamorous enough to get the sailors wolf-whistling whilst still looking pretty damn comfy. At this point my neighbour turned to me and asked ‘Are the gussets big enough?’ to which I replied ‘Yes, I think they are’, a special moment and a rarity in modern underwear, I’m sure some will agree.  It was also brilliant fun getting into the vintage spirit with a burlesque striptease and union jack waving.

Aneta Mackonyte’s ‘Rainbow Warriors’ are influenced by Tibetan, Mayan and Incan mythology. ‘I am trying to unite my own knowledge and emotions by mixing fantasy and the everyday in a child-like way.’ Mackonyte explains. Happy models, wearing relaxed chunky layers echoed her message. Clashes of tribal prints, bright woven fabrics, bear hats and knotted prayer flags would be great for snugly winter outfits.

Other highlights included feisty punks at Charles of London and Flash Gordon futurism at Shara Haze. The hairy zombie men clawing at us from the catwalk were also a big hit. Student and BFW fan Astrid Harbour commented, ‘What Jylle Navarro created with a pair of knitting needles was absolutely extraordinary’. My only complaint of the evening being the large number of lollipops carried throughout the show and the slightly abrupt ending after the final designer.

This year the models were stronger than ever. Local beauties (stand outs including Ellis Anthony, Desiree Laidler and Liv), many modelling for the first time and doing a spectacular job, were supported by the talented backstage crew as returning BFW model Dimos explains. "A team of hardworking individuals backstage power through the hours to perfect the look on the already very beautiful models. Make-up artists, hair stylists, dressers and designers were all working round the clock to get the models out and ready on time. Backstage madness is always worth it in the end; the models graced the catwalk in their stunning garments. Brighton Fashion Week has done it once again and put on a show to remember."

I quite agree.

BFW takes place every year in May. For more information visit: http://www.brightonfashionweek.com/
Follow Tess Georgia Dimos on Facebook. Follow BFW on Facebook.

Review by Alice Parsons. Photos courtesy of Theresa Power and Brighton Fashion Week.

Lover - White Magick collection

Liana Gow-Killingbeck falls a little in love with the new White Magick collection:

Purity. Elegance. Magnificence.

If I were to ever find a man crazy enough to walk me down the aisle, then there is a good chance I would want to do it in one of these amazing pieces. They even included a jumpsuit among the dresses in this collection, and after working for Hussy, I must say I am definitely partial to a decent jumpsuit.

I have always enjoyed the Lover label, particularly their denim. They introduced me to my favourite Aussie model Tallulah Morton and their presence in the early Russh mags was somewhat iconic (and being a long time reader, Russh's influences have totally rubbed off on me).

Though their dresses are usually a smidge too feminine for my personal taste, I usually find a piece in each collection of theirs I would happily trade an arm and a leg for (though, if I were missing those limbs, I would probably look more like the corpse bride than I originally intended).

This stunning collection debuted exclusively last week in their delightful flagship store in the Strand, Sydney. If you are in Sydney, DO pop by and see it.

Review by Liana Gow-Killingbeck. Images courtesy of Oyster. See more of them on Liana's blog, where this review first appeared.

Win Maybelline NY goodies!

We don't know about you, but Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia flew by in a heartbeat for us. And what a week it was in Sunny Sydney, with some amazing collections - the comic book brilliance of Romance Was Born, the weird underwater neon elegance of Magdelena Velevska, the colour explosion of Jenny Kee, the pastel delicacy of Zimmermann - and of course all the fun and frolics that went on at a whole heap of after-parties. The most exciting thing about Fashion Week Australia though is that it has continued to rapidly grow in stature and to evolve, while retaining its homegrown charm. This year proved that in abundance.

Understandably ebullient at the success of their first year as official make-up sponsor of Fashion Week Australia, Maybelline NY are feeling in a particularly generous mood at the moment, and so have teamed up with your good mates at Bobbysix to offer up some free goodies to one of our readers. If you want the chance to win some awesome Maybelline NY products, just email info@bobbysix.com with the subject 'Maybelline' and the answer to the following question: What did Ruby Rose paint when she teamed up with New York Street artist KR recently? You can find the answer by listening to the above interview, which we conducted in the build-up to Fashion Week. We'll pick a winner at random. Wooo free stuff! Get involved!

Words, pics and interview by Bobby Townsend

Getting To Know... Tenley Nordstrom

Up-and-coming model Tenley Nordstrom has decided to walk away from the industry. In an honest and open interview, she talks to Bobbysix.com about giving it all up: 

Modelling has been a vehicle for me to travel and experience different sides of the world and people, but it's not like it has given me a whole lot more than that. I still really love the medium of photography though. For instance, Sally Mann is somebody I think is amazing, and she has nothing to do with fashion. As far as looking at maybe, Italian Vogue, I can see through it all now. I know what goes into it so the glamour has gone. I'm still grateful for everything that has happened - I wouldn't be the person I am without it -  but I'm at peace with that and I can use what I've learned elsewhere now.

The reason, more than any other, that I'm quitting modeling is because of the superficiality. I am not a superficial person and I can no longer live in a completely superficial world.... READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE.

Getting To Know... Laurel & Hector Vintage

 
Kee Kee, founder of the wonderful Laurel & Hector Vintage tells Bobbysix.com a bit about the business and her other ventures:

Laurel & Hector Vintage is an online store specializing in 1960’s & 1970’s garments; it’s definitely an obsession with the bright and fun aspects of the 60’s & 70’s. They just had it so right! Mixing sexy, edgy fashion with bright colours is definitely something I try to achieve in my day to day wardrobe. Wearing black is just too easy to pull off that bad ass babe look, but adding colour and sass is what the 60’s & 70’s was all about. I’m completely infatuated with mod fashion, those miniskirts, high neck collars and amazing detailing is what made me want to start Laurel & Hector Vintage – I found that Australia really doesn’t have it easy when it comes to finding unique mod fashion. I wanted to make it easier for my fellow 1960’s lovers and have it all available in one store. I sell online because it gives me more time to source new items, do photo shoots and sew mod dresses (which will be available in the New Year). I am constantly working to develop the brand and stock the rare treasures that you can only drool over on in a 1960’s French Vogue.

You should check out Laurel & Hector Vintage because it’s filled with unique treasures! The pieces I’ve personally sourced have been named after 1950’s – 1970’s songs, artists and iconic places which truly reflect s each item. The Laurel & Hector Tumblr & Facebook provides great insight into the garment names inspiration, film, art, music and influences from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Without turning into a complete 60’s freak; I often incorporate modern fashion into the mix to show how easy it is to wear Laurel & Hector items on a day to day basis. It’s all about balance, if you go hell for leather into an era it becomes too cheesy, the best fashion icons will mix it up and wear modern fashion and add their own vintage flare to it.  

When I'm not running the vintage business, you'll find me living by my motto “Deadlines or Die.” I love being busy and am constantly working on a new project. I run ma. gallery which started 2009 in [Sydney suburb] Chippendale, where we held weekly exhibitions and live shows for a year. After being sick of no shower and sharing a room in the gallery we decided pop-up shows would work better for us which opened up doors to exhibit in Japan and around Australia. We’re currently designing the EMI windows that face Flinders St in Sydney, including 20+ artists who will donate art works to be auctioned off to raise money for Christmas Wishing Tree fund for children who miss out on Christmas presents.

Sydney is something that needs a little work. I feel it has so much potential which is why we started ma. gallery in the first place. We wanted to provide a hub for the creatives of Sydney where artists can collaborate together, musicians can meet and organise shows and we could come up with fantastic ideas to incorporate the both. It’s so easy to say that Sydney is dull and such a small town when you don’t do anything about it. Running ma. definitely wasn’t easy, we were the stinky girls who showered in a sink and made people pay $3 for a beer at our art shows just to get by, but we did it because we wanted to add colour to the city, provide another place to exhibit or play and to hang out. If everyone just put in that little bit of effort we could show those big dogs like New York or Berlin what we’re made of. The talent here is insane but we’re losing them all for greener pastures. It’s so sad.

It might surprise people to learn that Laurel & Hector is named after my adorable grandparents. They live on a quiet street in Maitland where my dad and his siblings grew up; the house has been untouched since the 50’s! The collectibles in there are absolutely insane and they still collect bits and bobs. Walking into their kitchen you’ll find the mustard paisley wallpaper still intact, brown, orange and mustard coloured draw knobs, an Uluru poster from the 70’s and of course those kitsch kitchen ornaments like a weird fridge magnet or a ceramic poodle. I’ve heard stories of my grandpa, Hector, being a bit of a babe magnet and a wild boy. Dressing as a teddy and pulling risky moves like gambling his house with the Griffith mafia, I hope this is where I get my carefree attitude!

In the future I hope to live off Laurel & Hector Vintage and ma. gallery as a full-time job. I plan to start designing and making reproduction pieces from the 60’s and 70’s for L&H. I’ve already started with vintage a-line dress patterns with unique detailing, I’ll be stocking them on Laurel & Hector and in Route 66 on Crown Street in Sydney's Surry Hills within the New Year. I also plan to go into men’s wear, hence the name Laurel & Hector. It would be great to see some mod boys kicking around Sydney, even if it is just for eye candy! ma. gallery is also looking for bigger and better things, her third birthday is coming up in April and we’re trying to outdo ourselves each year. Like our Halloween parties we can only get bigger and better. If you missed out on this year’s Halloween we had The Walk On By, Tombstone, Psychonanny & The Babyshakers and Glitter Canyon play live and with eight amazing artists exhibiting from the likes of Esjay, Stevie Edge, John Hynd, Anton Benois and Bennett to name a few made this year our biggest. So our third birthday is definitely not one to be missed!

 
You can contact Kee Kee at laurelandhector@gmail.com and check out her store here. Follow Laurel and Hector on facebook to keep right up to date with all things vintage.     

Interview by Bobby Townsend. Photos: Ryan Kitching

Tess Georgia Dimos interviews Bobby Six!

Bobby Townsend, the, ahem, brains behind Bobbysix.com, is used to being the man asking the questions. Sometimes though, like here, he becomes the interviewee, where he stutters and stumbles his way through the simplest of questions. This week, he was interviewed by the delightful Tess Georgia Dimos (above, who he interviewed earlier in the year) about his experiences talking to models. Here's a snippet:

Hey Bobby ! So, you have interviewed quite a few models over the past year or so, is it a pleasant experience speaking to a model? 

I first started interviewing models as I was very keen to feature a more eclectic bunch of people on my blog, rather than just bands. So I spoke to some writers, artists, film-makers, models, etc. The model interviews always got the most views, so I was obviously keen to feature more. As I started doing more interviews with them, I found that the quality of answer was invariably very good. At first, I couldn’t really work out why these interviews always went so well, but then I realised that, often, models don’t really get the chance to air their voice. They are just treated as glorified clothes horses, bossed around and not always shown much respect. So, when someone actually makes the effort to say, “Tell me about yourself, I’m really interested in what you have to say,” they are happy to take the opportunity to show that they are more than two-dimensional characters. The thing that often comes across is how much more to their lives there is than modelling. The generally accepted idea that models are vacuous is completely unrepresentative, in my opinion. The vast majority of models are intelligent, friendly and endearing.

You can read the full interview here. 

Getting To Know... Fanny Quest

Fanny Quest is the first person to star in one of Bobbysix.com's promotional videos. You can see the result of our video shoot below. First though, read our interview with the Brighton-based German model:

I started modelling after somebody came up to me at a party in Germany and asked me if I was interested in it. I went for a test shoot the next day and it went well, so that's how it began. After I finished school, I didn't really know what I wanted to study. I decided that, before I ended up studying something that I didn't really like, I should come to England to get life experience. When I moved to Brighton, I went to the casting for Brighton Fashion Week. It was a really great opportunity and one of the best experiences of my life.

I see modelling like art. It's not just a picture on paper but should really represent a person. I think I'm a very happy and friendly person and I try to bring that across.

I would really like to travel all over the world. I want to stay in England at first and, if modelling works out, I'd love to go to New York for a while because I've heard it's an amazing place. I think being in Paris must be nice. There's so much stuff you need to see in your life, to get to know what you really like.

Aside from modelling, I'd like to do something with media and communication. I would like to be a presenter because I love to talk - I am very talkative and open to people. But if this doesn't work, I would love to have my own bakery. My passion is baking, cooking and presenting food.

I'm currently listening to lots of jazz. I love jazz. And old music like The Beatles. Happy music. I don't like commercial stuff like Lady Gaga.

I absolutely love Brighton. Everybody is how they want to be. They are enjoying their lives and a lot of people are trying to live their dreams. Everyone is respectful. People don't have preconceptions and they get to know you before they make decisions about you. It's really nice and it isn't like, just because you are young and blond, you are stupid or something. People give you the opportunity to show them how you really are.

I had fun making the video for Bobbysix.com. It is always interesting to get to know what you can do. You just need to be a bit confident. Before you try it, you don't know if you can do it well or not, so it was good, because now I know. It's always important to learn new things and to be open.

You've read the interview and seen the pictures, now check out the video Fanny starred in, exclusively for Bobbysix.com:

Interview and video by Bobby Townsend.

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EatonNott launches design boutique and studio

 
On Saturday evening, Bobbysix.com was fortunate enough to attend the launch of EatonNott, an interior design boutique and studio in Brighton that caters for those who seek the unusual, desirable and bizarre.

The studio is a collaborative project between two artists, Jess Eaton and Jon Nott, who source and create a range of treats such as an intricately carved horse skull center-piece, skulls and skeletons, industrial furnishings, unusual antiques and general oddities. Of course, one of the highlights is Eaton's highly acclaimed 'Roadkill Couture' collection that we raved about during Brighton Fashion Week.

The launch featured models (such as the delightful Jocasta Aliix, above) wearing some of the Roadkill items and DJs spinning tunes, while guests nibbled typically unusual treats (such as locusts) and sipped the specially brewed - and very tasty - Gothic Ale while perusing the amazing range of weird and wonderful goodies on display.
 

We strongly advise you to see the place with your own eyes. EatonNott is based at 26 Preston Road in Brighton, so head down there to check out the beguiling juxtaposition of the beautifully ornate with the devilishly macabre. If you aren't local to the South of England, then have a look at the brand new online site here.

You can remind yourself of Jess Eaton's Roadkill Couture collection by revisiting our review of the Brighton Fashion Week Couture show. Also, you can stay up to date with everything EatonNott has got going on by liking their facebook page. Keep an eye on Bobbysix.com for load of photos from the launch and after-party. For now though, here are a couple of shots courtesy of Sarah Costello (the first of which features Nott and Eaton, with models Yasmin S Motovalli and Jocasta.

 

San Cisco - Girls Do Cry

Australia's San Cisco have just released their second single Girls Do Cry from their debut EP, Golden Revolver. Shot in NYC by an independent fashion design collective, the track's vintage-inspired clip was a lucky discovery. San Cisco drummer, Scarlett Stevens, uncovered the piece of footage by chance, posted on underground fashion blog, Cat Party. After introduction, clip co-director and slumber party beauty, Hannah Metz, thought the passage to be a perfect fit for Girls Do Cry.

The women seen in the video are all independent fashion designers themselves and, according to the press release, "There's an undeniable synergy between the splendour, strength and individuality of the small NY fashion collective and the liberated youthful abandon of this foursome of teens from Western Australia, that colours the Girls Do Cry collaboration."

And there we were thinking it was just a good song with an ace clip of cool chicks in their underwear. 

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Lovecat Magazine - Reigniting your love of the printed page

 
Everyone keeps telling us that print is a dead medium. Why would anybody walk into a shop and buy a magazine when they can just see it all on their laptop, ipad or smart phone? And with less people buying magazines, the industry has got a little lazy and disillusioned. Therefore the quality has dipped and there is even less chance of people bothering to spend their hard earned pennies in their local newsagent. It's a Catch 22 situation.

So we should say a massive HOORAY to Lovecat Magazine for putting the cat amongst the pigeons, for giving the magazine industry an almighty kick up the arse and for reigniting our love for the printed page. Lovecat Magazine is a new fashion model fanzine bursting out of the USA. Taking its identity from the old school Teen Beats and Punk Rock fanzines, but with a pinup approach and published quarterly, it features some of the hottest models shot by some of the top and up-and-coming fashion photographers.

Much like Bobbysix.com does with its favourite models and musicians in its Getting To Know... series, Lovecat features fan interviews that give the reader an inside look into some of the lives of the girls we see on countless billboards and magazines. Each new issue is a mix of models, art, music, fashion and beauty in an unconventional form , making it a collectors item.

Brilliantly-named editors in chief, Prince Peter Chenova and Jacob Dekat, say in their debut issue, "After reading countless fashion magazines, we honestly just became bored. We felt a dire need to create something that was missing. These uncensored visual tales are meant to take you back to the supermodel days, when beauty and femininity ruled the world. Love, Collect, and Enjoy."

If the first issue is anything to go by, Lovecat Magazine will certainly be worth collecting. We love Paz de la Huerta and we ADORE the work of Ellen Von Unwerth (did you see her amazing recent shoot with Dioni Tabbers?). So put Ellen and Paz together and you are on to the ultimate winner. If that weren't enough good shit for issue number one, then wonderful human being Britany Nola (above) - who was first interviewed here at Bobbysix.com - is featured too. Double winner!

But the best thing about Lovecat Magazine is that it is clearly created with a passion and a respect for its medium. It is edgy, dangerous, exciting. Impressively, it combines the artistic beauty of a coffee-top glossy with the don't-give-a-fuck edginess of a fanzine made with glue and scissors. 

Issue One is on sale now. You can pick it up in the US and in selected stores in Europe or you can purchase it from Lovecatmagazine.com.

 

Words by Rob Townsend
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Brighton Fashion Week - The Video

Okay, so I'm a writer by trade, but I've always fancied myself as a bit of a movie maker. While the less that is said about the "comedy" short I wrote and directed when I was at college the better (choice bit of dialogue from this film:"Oh my God, his willy's hanging out"), I am pretty proud to have co-directed this music clip of my friend being slapped repeatedly round the face in a car park (watch it, it's better than it sounds), and also to have appeared in this one.

Anyhoo, to the point. In amongst reviewing, photographing, interviewing and generally schmoozing with the beautiful people at Brighton Fashion Week, I also managed to shoot a bit of footage, which I have rather crudely pieced together and set to music. It's hardly Oscar-worthy, but it'll give you a taste of what this year's event was like. And, basically, it means you can spend the next five minutes looking at pretty people. And everyone likes pretty people. Check it below:

Words, pictures and video footage by Rob Townsend.
For more music, video and fashion, follow Bobbysix.com on Facebook.

Brighton Fashion Week - Roadkill Couture Wows Crowd!

Following the Success of Thursday's Brighton Frocks show at St Martin's Church, Brighton Fashion Week returned to the same venue the following night for the Couture show. While it's hard to believe any more punters could squeeze into the venue, it seemed there was an even bigger crowd in attendance than for the packed-out Frocks show, and it was standing-room-only by the time the first model set foot on the catwalk at 8.30pm.

The Frocks offering was always going to be a hard act to follow and the first-half of the Couture show - while oozing elegance and style - lacked that dangerous, edgy, outlandish element that made the night before so exciting. However, that changed when, soon after the interval, Jess Eaton's Roadkill Couture collection absolutely blew the roof off.

Jess Eaton makes her pieces from animals that have died naturally or been killed for food. She's not out to shock, but rather wants to push recycling to the limit and make an increasingly wasteful world think about the nature of sustainability. If animals are being killed to stick in our mouths, shouldn't we at least put their skin and bones to use too? And not only does she put them to use, she creates things of pure beauty.

Amongst her amazing collection, she boasts a belt built from Marks & Spencer spare rib bones, a fascinator fashioned from rat skulls and a hat made from magpie wings. To reiterate, this wasn't even slightly about shocking the audience with gimmicks - there wasn't a ham-fisted Lady Gaga meat dress in sight - but rather was beautifully crafted and perfectly judged. It deserved the ovation it received.

  
For more examples of Jess' strange yet beautiful work, as well as other designers' collections and yet more backstage craziness, check out our Facebook album. While you're there, why not Like us, and we'll keep you hella up to date with all the other BFW stuff we've got going on, as well as the latest music news, reviews and interviews from around the world. And yes, you read it right, we did use the word "hella". 

Words and pictures by Rob Townsend
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Update: here is Jess' statement of intent, to add a bit of context to the above:

Salt-N-Pepa - Push It

The other day, we were watching a show in which Ke$ha was counting down her top 50 US party tunes (or something). Now, considering Ke$ha is perhaps one of the most vacuous human beings to step on God's green earth, it turns out she has pretty fricken awesome taste in music. In the hour that we watched, we enjoyed some Madonna, some Snoop, R Kelly's Ignition, Prince's 1999 and, this slice of pure attitude. We will never ever tire of watching this clip. The clothes, the hair, the moves. AMAZING.

Brighton Fashion Week - Brighton Frocks Show

The Brighton Frocks show is always the beating heart of Brighton Fashion Week and, with designers Charlotte Appleby, Afton Ayache, Former Glory, Briar Rose Kelleher, Katie Newsam, Bugsy Pants, Sarina Poppy, I. Am. Ralph, Red Mutha and Joy Williams all showing their wares, it was no surprise to see a long queue snaking from the grand old St Martin's Church long before the doors opened. Upon entry, the glitterati of the fashion scene effortlessly offered their best Blue Steel to the snapping paps, air-kissed acquaintances and sipped wine while they excitedly waited for the show to get under way.

Backstage couldn't have offered more of a contrast to the relaxed vibe in the main auditorium. Anyone who has ever stepped behind the curtain of a fashion show will know the score. It's barely controlled carnage back there. An explosion of colour and a blur of movement. Boobs, bums, abs and hair everywhere as male and female models dash around the cramped room frantically trying to ready themselves. A fug of hairspray fills the atmosphere. Everybody is in somebody's way as they try to keep to the tightest schedule. Were the uninitiated to accidentally venture into this madness, they would never believe that proceedings would kick-off on time. But this is par for the course with a catwalk event, and the show does indeed go on, perfectly on schedule. Like a swan, no matter how much splashing and kicking takes place beneath the surface, the above-water elegance is never compromised.

 

 

Meanwhile, amid the madness, photographers were taking any opportunity to grab a few shots, meaning the tiny alleyway outside became an impromptu location for many a quick shoot.

As one has come to expect from Brighton Frocks, the show was typically diverse. One minute there's punk attitude emanating from the catwalk, the next, Marie Antoinette elegance. In front of a sold-out room in the majestic setting, I. Am. Frank engaged in a colour assault with a Klaxons-meets-Tetris twist, while the Bugsy Pants collection received the best reception of the night from an oohing and woohing crowd. Check out a few shots from the show below. A more comprehensive collection of photographs of the event, including more from the catwalk show, the backstage madness and the mingling crowds, can be seen at our facebook page.

 

 

 

Post gig, as the audience mingled with models and organisers, Bobbysix.com grabbed some opinions. Fashion aficionado and Brighton resident Tana Dean (on the left in this photo) said, "I liked the variety. Joy Williams and I. Am. Ralph, were the highlights." When talk turned to the importance of Brighton Fashion Week and its place in the grand scheme of things, she told us, "It's a really good thing. Everyone in Brighton is so diverse and everyone is fighting to be diverse."

Fashion student Hattie Cox added, "[Founder/Director] Liz Bishop does an amazing job. Brighton Fashion Week is like a gateway to London."

Former BFW model and genius illustrator, Alice Parsons, (who works under the name Owlstation) also enjoyed the occasion. "I thought the setting of the church made for an interesting show - with the clash between old holy tradition and sexy young things strutting their stuff. I really liked the choreography and the casting. I loved the music and there were some very cool VT things on the screen. Great fun." 

And so,  as the church emptied and the after-parties began, the organisers could happily kick back and enjoy a glass or two of wine, satisfied in the knowledge that Brighton Frocks continues to grow, influence and inspire. They can't relax for long though, as the Couture Show takes place at the same venue tonight. Let the craziness recommence...

Check out the full photo album from last night at our facebook page (just click the below photo). Models and revellers, Like our page to receive more updates from BFW. And, you know, just because we're awesome and we wanna be your friend.

Words and pictures by Rob Townsend.
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